Car-coupling.



UNITED i' lSTATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALVA J. I-I. BEARD, OF FLORA, ILLINOIS.

CAR-COUPLING.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 628,384, dated July 4, 1899. AppiicaiioiiiiieaApiiiie,1899. seiialNo. 713,657. (Nomad.)

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that l, ALvA J. H. BEARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Flora, in the county of Clay and State of Illinois, have invented new and useful Improvements in Oar-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in car-couplers of the Janney type, in which pivoted horizontal latches are employed to hold the knuckle in a locked position; and my invention consists in the construction of a knuckle and the locking means therefor, as Will be hereinafter set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a horizontal sectional view of one of the drawheads of a car-coupler constructed in accordance with my invention, the knuckle or hook being shown in a coupled position. Fig. 2 is a similar view, the knuckle or coupling-hook being shown in a position for coupling.

The draw-head A is constructed toreceive the knuckle or coupling-hook B, which is secured to the draw-head A by means of a ver-k tical pin or bolt b. The draw-head has a transverse Wall or solid portion a, with a concave recess therein, in advance of which recess are vertical apertures for the reception of a pin or bolt c, which passes through apertures in the draw-head, and an elongated opening or aperture d in the rear end of a latch D. The latch D is spring-actuated in one direction by a helical spring E,Wl1ich bears upon one of the sides of the latch at one end and against the inner` wall of the recessed draw-head, a cavity being formed for.

the reception of the end of the spring, and, if desirable, the latch D may have a projecting portion which will enter the spring. One side of the latch has an offset D",and to a reduced portion of said offset a rod or bar d' for operating the latch is attached, so that the latch may be moved against the action of the spring by said bar when it is desired to move the latch out of engagement with the knuckle, so that said knuckle Will be free to swing upon its pin.

The horizontally-swim gin g knuckle or coupling-hook B has formed thereon la lug B', the shoulders of which`are slightly inclined, and said lug is so positioned that when the knuckle is locked the lug will be to one side of the pin b and when unlocked on the opposite side.

When the knuckle is locked, the end of thef it is desired to uncouple the cars, the rod d is drawn upon, so as to move the end of the latch out of the path of the lug, and when the lug has passed the end of the latch said latch will engage with the opposite side of the lug and hold the knuckle open or in a position forzcoupling, which coupling will be automatic. It will be noted that the latch not only serves as a lock for the knuckle, but also serves to hold the knuckle open in a position for coupling.

The coupling hereinbefore described may be used for either-passenger or freight cars, and any suitable means may be provided for actuating the latch.

Having thus described my invention,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a car-coupler, the combination with a recessed draw-head, a knuckle and a latch each pivotally attached to the draw-head, the knuckle having on one side a lug with which the locking device will engage to hold the knuckle either open or closed, substantially as shown.

2. A car-couplin g comprising a horizontallyrecessed draw-head, a knuckle pivoted in one side of the draw-head and provided on its inner portion with a lug, a latch pivoted at its rear end adjacent to the center of the drawhead, a spring adapted to bear upon the drawhead and latch, means for moving the latch against the action of the spring, the parts being organized so that the latch will hold the knuckle either open or closed and when said knuckle is in either position will engage therewith, substantially as shown.

In testimony whereof` I have hereunto set my hand in presence of two subscribing witnesses.

ALVA J. H. BEARD.

Witnesses:

L. W. ELLIOTT, S. A. STANFORD.

IOC 

